The Incredible Moringa

Thứ ba, 20/12/2016 12:50

Fresh Moringa leaves and flowers contain a huge amount of vitamins and nutrients, in which vitamin C is 7 times higher than an orange, calcium is 4 times higher than fresh milk, protein is double fresh milk, vitamin A is 4 times higher than a carrot, and potassium is triple a banana.

Associate Professor, Ph.D, Doctor Luu Thi Hiep – Dean of Oriental Medicine Department of Hong Duc hospital, former Traditional Medicine lecturer in University of Medicine and Pharmacy HCMC said that Moringa has been widely used in over 80 countries in pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics, nutritional beverages, and functional food. Developing countries is also taking advantage of Moringa as an incredible natural drug in cure and nutritious food.


Young Moringa leaves are highly nutritious.

We can tell that Moringa is a valuable herb. So where is its origin, its habitat, and what is its medical characteristic?

Its scientific name is Moringa oleifera, originally from India. It easily grows in tropical zones and its most popular habitat is Asia and Africa. Moringa also has folk names, which mean “incredible tree” or “life support tree” because of its extremely condensed nutrients and medical characteristics.

In Viet Nam, Moringa trees have been wildy growing years ago but lately its medical effects were discovered so people have misunderstood its origin. Recently, Moringa trees are farm raised from Da Nang to Kien Giang, and even on Phu Quoc island.

Modern pharmaceutical researches have shown that juice from Moringa leaves and roots have antimicrobial effect, Moringa leaves themselves contain drugs which can decrease blood pressure, and outer layer of the roots contains high antimicrobial that can treat mouth sores. The whole Moringa tree is a natural antimicrobial, even its seeds. Fresh Moringa leaves and flowers contain a huge amount of vitamins and nutrients, in which vitamin C is 7 times higher than an orange, calcium is 4 times higher than fresh milk, protein is double fresh milk, vitamin A is 4 times higher than a carrot, and potassium is triple a banana. “Some early researches recorded that Moringa root extract is antitumor in guinea pigs”, provided more details Ms. Luu Thi Hiep.

Is Moringa used as cure food?

Laos have Moringa flowers and green fruits as vegetables while Cambodians cook Moringa leaves and fruits in their Somlo soup. In Viet Nam, young Moringa leaves can be boiled or stir-fried with beef as a delicious dish. Raw leaves is to make salad, juice, or to cook with mushroom, pumpkin, sliced baby corns, and crushed raw peanut as a vegetarian dish. Moringa seeds can be eaten raw or roasted, grinded to make tea or to season curry broth, or pressed to make salad oil.


Rare beef and Moringa salad.

Chefs have brought new remarkable dishes from Moringa to The Golden Spoon contest 2016, such as Rare beef and Moringa leaves salad, Seafood and Moringa soup, and Moringa pudding. Those nutritious food delightfully surprised gourmet diners and judges.

In facts, Moringa has been used as natural medicine for years. Moringa leaves can treat high fever, measles, and asthma; fruits can increase sexual ability; barks can treat prostate tumors and anti-fatigue. Besides those, people also use Moringa in beauty care simply by smashing the leaves with or without Moringa oil (from the seeds) and applying in 7 minutes, twice a day. Another interesting useful usage of Moringa is that its seeds contain multi-electrolyte compounds so people, especially in countryside, can filter water.

Howerver, scientists recommend not to overdose or to use Moringa root for pregnant women because what the roots contain can harm the fetus.

By Thanhnien


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